The Spring that was - Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day December 2013

It has been such a long time between posts. After my Indonesian interlude last year, I thought this was the year to consolidate on the home and garden front.  I struggled unsuccessfully for most of the year and completely gave up any pretence by September. There was just so much happening.

Firstly, a couple of big and interesting freelance projects cropped up. Then came the challenge of juggling them with, not only a short, planned trip to New Zealand, but also a wonderful, unexpected first-time visit to Australia by an English friend, which provided a wonderful excuse to visit some of the loveliest spots along our East Coast.

Spring in Australia starts on 1 September, and the following couple of months normally feature the garden at its best. With all my gadding about, mine is still a disaster, but luckily I have some really tough and reliable favourites that save me from completely disgracing myself as a would-be gardener. And even if I struggled with blogging and even reading my favourite blogs, I did manage to keep snapping. So here is the Spring that was, just in time for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

September:

I knew it was crazy buying new plants when I didn't have time to give them the TLC they deserved, but who could resist this gorgeous splotched verbena and its purple and white mate in the background. While not actually thriving, they are still hanging in there. (Did you notice the grasshopper in the top left-hand side?)

My last post, back in August, was about the Australian Native Orchid Society conference and featured lots of these Dendrobium speciosum. (Click here to revisit). Mine, high in the branches of the Poinciana, was only in bud then. 

Meanwhile, on the main trunk of the Poinciana, this beautiful little Tick Orchid, Dockrillia linguiformis, was another September bloomer.

October:

Another orchid. This is an Oncidium

Daylilies are the greatest stars in my October garden. This is Hemerocallis 'Isis Unveiled'

'Donna Mead'

 

'Sabine Baur'

Yucca 'Purple Royale' with Cleome 'Senorita Blanca'

Rondeletia splendens

November:

My two pots of Oncidium 'Dancing Lady' orchids were a mass of blooms in November.

Another orchid in bloom was this Zygopetalum

One of my bromeliads in bloom; this is a Billbergia

It may only bloom for a week each year, but this pink and red zygocactus is well worth the wait.

 

 

Daylily 'Double Cranberry Ruffles'

'Royal Rego'

'Russian Ragtime'

And finally, the ever-reliable Cosmos

 

Well, now we are nearly up to date - at least as far as my garden goes. But there is still so much I have seen over the past few months to share with you, including some wonderful gardens. Hope you will come along for the ride, starting next post.

To see what is happening in other gardens around the world this Bloom Day, visit Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host Carol at May Dreams Gardens.